Axle.



J. c. HBINZELMAN.

AxLE. 4 Y APPLIO/ATION FILED JULY 31, 1907.,

905,699. Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

anw/nto?,

JOHN C. HEINZELMAN, OF LEEDS, NORTH DAKOTA..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed July 31, 1967. Serial No. 386,408.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN O. HEINZELMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leeds, in the county of Benson and State of North Dakota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Axles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wheel attaching devices, and itsprimary object is to provide a device of this character by means ofwhich a wheel can be rigidly secured to an axle, the invention beingespecially adapted for securing Wheels to the rear or drive axle of anautomobile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wheel attaching devicewhich is simple, durable, one Which comprises compara# tively few parts,and one which will not materially increase the cost of the axle or theWheels.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, c aimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal central section through one end of the rear ordrive axle of an automobile, illustrating the a plication of my improvedwheel attaching evice. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the rear or drive axle. Fig.4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a section on theline 5-5 of Fig. 2. y

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 2 designates the rear orthe drive axle of an automobile, and 3 the axle casing which is enlargedat one end, as at 4. The axle s indle 5 is provided with a centrallylocate and longitudinally extending bore 6 which terminates at its outerend in a threaded socket 7. The diameter of the bore 6 graduallydecreases inwardly. The axle spindle 5 is also provided with radiallyarranged openings 8 which extend from `the bore 6 to and through theouter surface of the spindle. Longitudinally extending grooves 9 arearranged in the outer surface of the spindle 5 and communicate with theopenings 8, the bottom walls of the grooves inclining downwardly in thedirection of said o enings. Keys 10 consist of heads 11 wlhich aremounted in the openings 8, and reduced shanks 12 which are securedwithin the grooves 9, said Shanks being adapted to yieldingly retain theheads in operative or locking positions. The heads 1 1 are adapted toengage in longitudinally extending grooves 13 formed in the innersurface of the hub 14. The hub 14 is provided with a cone 15 betweenwhich and a ball race 17 are arranged the ball bearings 16. As the heads11 of the keys engage in the grooves 13 of the hub, the wheel is securedto the axle against rotary motion thereon. A nut 18 is secured to theaxle spindle 5 to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the wheel.

The nut 18 is provided with an externally threaded extension 19 adaptedto engage in `the socket 7 and with an internally threaded socket 20adapted to receive the head of a bolt 21, which is secured to the nut bymeans of a threaded member 22. As the bolt 21 is secured to the nut 18,the application of the nut will position the bolt in the bore 6. Thebolt 21 1s tapered, and is adapted to move the heads l1 of the keys 10radially and to hold them in frictional engagement with the hub. Theinner wall of the hub and the outer surface of the axle spindle arerespectively provided with semicircular threaded grooves 23 and 24, saidgrooves being adapted to receive threaded bolts 25 which assist inpreventing the wheel from having any rotary or longitudinal movement onthe axle spindle. A cap-nut 26 is applied to and incloses the end of thehub 14.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and mode of operation of the invention shouldbe apparent without a further extended description. It should also beapparent that the wheel may be readily and quickly applied to andremoved from the axle. In view thereof, automobilists will iind it totheir advantage to carry an extra wheel provided with an inflated tire,thus saving the trouble and time consumed in the removal of a puncturedor otherwise injured tire and the substitution of another therefor.

Changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the s iritor sacrificing any of the advantages o the invention.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what l claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination With an axleprovided With a bore and an opening communicating with the bore, of aWheel having the hub thereof provided With a groove, a key movablymounted in the opening and adapted to engage in the groove to preventthe Wheel from having any rotary movement on the axle, means adapted toprevent any longitudinal movement on the Wheel on the axle, and a boltcarried by said means and adapted to lit in the bore, said bolt beingadapted to force the key into frictional engagement With the hub.

Y 2. In a device of the character described, the combination With an:axle provided With ya threaded socket, a bore communicating with thesocket, vand lan opening communieating With the bore, of a 'Wheel havingthe hub thereof rovided With agroove, a key mounted in t e opening andadapted toengage in the groove to prevent'the Wheel from he key intofrictional engagement With the 3. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination with a Wheel, of an axle provided With a boreand an opening, a key movably mounted in the openlng and adapted toengage the Wheel to prevent it from having any rotary movement on theaxle, and means adated to be inserted in the bore to secure the ey inlocking osition. y

4. In a device `o the character described, the combination with a Wheel,of an Aaxle provided With an'openingzand a bore, a :key mov- `ablymounted in the yopening 'and adapted to yengage the Wheel to prevent itfrom having any rotary movement on the axle, a nut, and

means carried by the nut, said means being adapted tohold the key inlocking position.

In testimony whereof Iv aiix` my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN C. HEINZELMAN.

Witnesses:

J. A. CHRISTENSON, E. JONES.

